The early closures of several North Coast parks is highlighting the repercussions on local tourism -- and the need for park partners who can run park operations.

Gary Graham Hughes, executive director of the Environmental Protection Information Center, or EPIC, said the closures mean severe economic impacts for local communities, with potential tourists discouraged from making vacation plans for the North Coast.

"The state parks in our region are crucial environmental and economic assets for our communities, and it is imperative that they are managed for their long-term benefits," he wrote in an email to the Times-Standard.

"The current use of Humboldt Redwoods State Park by a Hollywood film production should be an exciting reminder of the economic potential inherent in our state parks and is hard evidence of why it is important to fight for a well-funded and forward-looking approach to caring for our parks," Hughes added, referring to the filming within the parks of a movie starring Will Smith as an example of how parks contribute to the local economy.

The North Coast Redwoods District of California State Parks announced its plans for service reductions to three state parks last week. Although the parks were initially scheduled for closure in July, Michelle Gardner, the Eel River sector superintendent for State Parks, said the district can no longer afford to operate them.

"Setting up parks for a Memorial Day opening is very costly," Gardner wrote in an email.

Beginning May 1, the Standish Hickey State Recreation Area will close to vehicles and camping, and the Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park campground will also close. The Cheatham Grove day use area will remain open through at least June 30.

The Benbow Lake State Recreation Area campground, which normally opens just before Memorial Day, will not open this year, with the day use area remaining open through at least June 30. Fort Humboldt will start weekend and holiday closures on July 1.

Garberville Redway Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dee Way said losing the Benbow park is tough for the Southern Humboldt community.

"We don't attract tourists with roller coasters or theme parks; people flock here because of our state parks and the natural beauty they have to offer," she said. "As we gear up for the busy tourist season, it's a crushing blow to hear that many local state parks won't be open this year and that the fate of Benbow day use is still uncertain."

Gardner said the parks district is in talks with three potential partners, one for each of the parks, but she didn't want to release their names until a commitment was solidified.

"If we can get partners, we can reopen them," she said.

Team Standish, a group of volunteers aiming to save Standish Hickey, is one organization that has submitted a partnership proposal.

Group member Bess Bair said on Wednesday that the group submitted the 74-page proposal -- created with the help of the Mendocino Area Parks Association, a nonprofit that works with other organizations to keep parks open in Mendocino County -- the prior week. The group plans to publicly release the proposal after a few more items are finalized.

Bair said Team Standish is making a commitment to continue supporting the parks no matter what happens next.

"Team Standish is dedicated to a lifelong partnership," Bair said.

As the group waits for an answer from State Parks, Bair said, it continues to recruit volunteers to ensure a strong base.

She said volunteers are at the core of Team Standish's vision. About 35 volunteers having been meeting every week since October.

"In this world of everything getting away from us and big business and big corporations, this is a perfect example of local people and local resources -- we've been given a chance to have a local resource come back under our protection," she said.